125s: What The Difference A Few Years Make

I was reading a press release yesterday from Yamaha, and in it where a few photos of some current motorcycles. At first glance, I looked at the sports motorcycle, and thought that the R6 had a slightly changed color. Then I looked again, and noticed after an even harder look that it wasn't a YZF-R6, but a 125 cc.

If you think about it, the way the 125 used to be. I feel like an old timer (but then I am), but back in the good old days, a 125 was a beginner bike, and it was simple. Remember, they looked like this (a Yamaha RD125 from 1973):

Nowadays, the 125 cc motorcycles can only be distinguished when you take a close look, or you listen to the engine noise. It used to be that the tires gave them away, but that is now more and more difficult.

Here's the difference between a 125 and a full blow sports motorcycle:

You've got to agree, you need to do a double take to distinguish which is which.... Can you tell which is which?

To a lesser degree, it also applies to the off-road or adventure market:

These are to WR motorcycles.

Nowadays, the 50cc market is starting to look more and more like real motorcycles.

What does this all mean? For one, this is a great time to be growing up, and start learning how to ride a motorcycle. Imagine what you would have felt when you started out learning on one of these motorcycles? Heavenly bliss!

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